Sorry guys but this topic is stupid. All you guys are gonna do here is whine about how you want things for free.

That's a given.. everything wants more for less.

You thought this thread was stupid and yet you still felt the need to resurrect it from 6 months ago?

I guess the wide range of answers here shows why BMW decided to make things optional and not standard. It seems they did a good job of it, too since most of the comments here are about options people wish they had but couldn't (e.g., CF roof on E90, Brembos, delete options).

And re: bundling MDM with the tech package - that's a classic pricing scheme. There is an entire field in the business world dedicated to finding the best way to bundle options together so as to maximize amount of dollars realized from each customer. We're screwed and can't do anything about it.

You thought this thread was stupid and yet you still felt the need to resurrect it from 6 months ago?

I guess the wide range of answers here shows why BMW decided to make things optional and not standard. It seems they did a good job of it, too since most of the comments here are about options people wish they had but couldn't (e.g., CF roof on E90, Brembos, delete options).

And re: bundling MDM with the tech package - that's a classic pricing scheme. There is an entire field in the business world dedicated to finding the best way to bundle options together so as to maximize amount of dollars realized from each customer. We're screwed and can't do anything about it.

Oh I had no idea! It showed up on the first index page so I assumed it would be recent, without checking the date. My bad.

Based on your thought process, BMW should provide a crank out on the grill so you can start your car. I mean, really, if you can't start your car you shouldn't be in one.

I don't recall saying that a backup camera is needed to park. What I recall saying is that it allows you to fit into tighter spaces. While you're looking for your next $2,000 ceramic exhaust mod, I'm simply asking for a $50 upgrade that actually has some practical function.

There's something about this whole reply that reminds me about this joke I've heard about BMWs. It had to do with the difference between BMWs and Porcupines.

First off that was a most deserving shot.

Clearly there are three major camps in this topic.

1. Track oriented
2. DD oriented
3. Profit oriented

Let's start with the profit oriented - BMW. Yes they have to make money if we expect to see good profucts and service continue.

One of the key ways they make money, as all manufuctures, is to bundle options together that allow them to blend low and high margin options. Otherwise, buyers could end up buying a stripped down version that would also strip down the profit. Yes you would pay less, get less but BMW would eventually stop making M3s.

What would be interesting would possibly be a mandatory option alternative such that the base car would have either more track oriented options or DD oriented options. In both cases you could add in the items not included.

However in addition to what is offered today I would like to see

HUD
B/U Camera - I am torn on this but it should be an option at least
Blue Tooth for safety reasons should be standard.

As for all the comments about what a M really means and shooting down why M SUV. To me it is not confusing. The M means that the SUV compared to other SUVs is a performance machine. What is wrong with that. Does everyone who has kids or a cottage or a winter have to miss out?

If you want to get ideas about what options to add just log onto the Porsche site. If you want it, it is available for a $$$. Given that M3s are not mass produced I can't see why BMW couldn't also provide this option. However, it sure would take some of the after mod market revenue.

There're really 2 issues here: what should be standard, and what should be optional.

STANDARD (that currently is not): Leather, Bluetooth, iDrive (with screen, but no nav). And yes, iPod/USB should be standard as well, or at least a freaking CD changer.

OPTIONAL: HUD, Brembo brakes, Sport Exhaust, front PDC (along with rear). Nothing else makes sense on this car, like ventilated seats, power steering column, and other luxury crap like that. Oh, and I'd delete power sunshade, even though I have it.

Emboldened = agreement with you.

The electronics such as iPod are likely obsolete < ten years; probably much sooner which is why its inclusion doesn't matter to me.

Agree on Brembo brakes; should be a factory option.

Auto-dimming mirrors should be as standard as a steering wheel.

Something that should be an option IMHO is a donut spare. Mobility kits are poor substitutes in some instances where reinflation is beyond the MK's ability to cope with what has happened to a tire.

One other option that would be very nice to have is factory (or dealership) installed @ zero additional cost aftermarket exhaust that was "APPROVED" by M Division. The exhaust could be purchased by checking the respective "Options" box during purchase/order.

One last item that IMO should be granted at zero cost on a customer's whim: Speed delimited (a la debadging).

The electronics such as iPod are likely obsolete < ten years; probably much sooner which is why its inclusion doesn't matter to me.

Agree on Brembo brakes; should be a factory option.

Auto-dimming mirrors should be as standard as a steering wheel.

Something that should be an option IMHO is a donut spare. Mobility kits are poor substitutes in some instances where reinflation is beyond the MK's ability to cope with what has happened to a tire.

One other option that would be very nice to have is factory (or dealership) installed @ zero additional cost aftermarket exhaust that was "APPROVED" by M Division. The exhaust could be purchased by checking the respective "Options" box during purchase/order.

One last item that IMO should be granted at zero cost on a customer's whim: Speed delimited (a la debadging).

Well the point of that speed limit isn't to bother the customer.. it's to keep germanies' highways safe, and germanies' air clean :P.

They're never gonna get rid of that unless one of out Audi, BMW or Mercedes break the rule and thus voids the gentlemens' agreement in which they agreed to limited to 155mph or 250kph.

It's interesting that we have to check the oil on the dash, but have to manually check the tire pressures. My 2007 Acura TL-S gave me the tire pressures on the dash. I did read how excited some BMW writer was when he found out he could check the actual tire pressures on the new M5. Welcome to the 21st Century BMW.

I don't think any of you realize whatever will be added to the list you will pay for. Then we will have another thread asking "What do you don't want on the car"

"Nothing absolutely nothing is free in this world" Once you realize this you simply order your car and check the options you want.

It is like the 4 year maintenance plan ... you pay for it up front, Mercedes charges you (if you have one) as you go. I know I just paid for the first year inspection oil and filter change $358- a joke to me when I think back 20 years having to pay for the first oil change on an American car less then $20.00

So get used to it "Nothing comes free" so tick up your likes and dislikes when you order your car.

As far as I am concerned if I could have one option choice on my M3 (and we don't) it would be to have a dipstick.

Call me old fashion, I love how I can check my oil qualety (colour) smell and actual level on my Mercedes. I know over 50% of you fellows like a dip stick as well I had a poll about that some time ago. Yes that would be an option I'll gladly pay for.

Something to think about. Over to the corvette forums a common topic to rear its head from time to time was the leaner meaner versus more content debate. Like here but even moreso because it is a more trafficked forum it wasn't long before someone actually did the math. Or more specifically the weighing. I don't recall what it was with the base car but for the Z the sum total weight increase if you check every box was 26 lbs. This was done before the option came along for the extra leather which had to add further weight but I don't believe I ever saw a number on it. Also you have to consider that the Z didn't really have any heavy individual options like the moonroof for our cars. Still there were folks that complained about those lbs and I believe they had an argument. The Z was supposed to be the lean mean fighting machine in the lineup, that was its intent. Why then have these options? According to Dave Hill who you think would probably know its because without a certain level of content they have a car that they cant sell in numbers to recoup its development costs and realize a further profit which would mean there would be no Z06 at all.

When you think about the M3 the situation is probably at least somewhat similar. If you want a more directed standard performance option from an M3 you need to get its price point more reasonable than the GTS. The only way to do this is to sell enough cars to make it pay and the only way to do that is give the car enough content to sell to a broader audience than the small fraction who actually would delete A/C if they could.

More to the thread.... I haven't purchased a car in years that didn't have the handy little net running across the back of the truck to keep your groceries from flying all over on the way home. I actually called the dealership to tell them that it had been left laying in the prep area or something and I wanted to pick it up when I got my 1200. That would be when we found out we don't get one.

Yeah, without the key, there's no way to hot-wire a modern BMW, right? The alarm just gives you an audible alert if someone smashes a window. Which we all know, if someone wants to smash your window and take something, a blinking alarm light is not going to stop them.

....... cut in 40% the M3 production from now on; the days of talking about 100,000 sales in a model run are over. Two years in a row of M3 sales factory/financing subsidies in the USA are killing the resale value and image as well.